Graduate Studies and Research

MSc Management (Human Resource Management)

Introduction

How prepared are you to meet the need for effective leadership in our 21st Century workforce? Do you have the management competencies that are crucial for upward mobility and nation building? There is an ever-increasing demand in the public, private and non-profit sectors for innovative and primed managers who possess the skills needed to make strategic economic, financial and marketing decisions that will grow our Caribbean economies. This programme will equip you with general and specialised skills in contemporary management that will give you the edge in our increasingly competitive environment.

About the Programme
The Master of Science in Management (MSc Management), which offers specialisations in General Management, Marketing, Human Resource Management and Public Sector Management, is intended to meet the demand in the region for more qualified persons to provide effective leadership in the public, private and non-profit sectors.
Working professionals will not only get an understanding of management theory but will also have the opportunity to gain practical experience, while developing their critical and analytical thinking skills. Participants are able to choose a specialisation that suits their career goals. This programme will equip graduates to

make strategic management decisions

formulate innovate strategies for solving real world problems and challenges

motivate employees

satisfy customers

maximise the benefits accruing to their organisations

Who is this programme for?

The programme is designed for people who are seeking to shift into a specialized area of management; persons in various functional and professional areas who aspire to move into senior management positions; or anyone who wishes to upgrade their knowledge and skills in the field of management. These would include:

Sales personnel desirous of moving into marketing functions

Professionals (e.g. engineers) who are seeking to move up to management positions

Senior administrators, supervisors and middle managers

Programme Structure

The MSc Management is a forty-one (41) credit programme that allows students to specialize in one of the following areas: general management; marketing; human resources management; public sector management. The programme comprises the following courses:

i. Law and Public Affairs (3 credits)
ii. Ethics and the Public Sector Manager (3 credits)
iii. The Role of Government in National Development (3 credits)
iv. Managing Public-Private Sector Partnerships (3 credits)
v. Policy Formulation and Implementation (3 credits)

3) Research seminar (3 credits)

4) Research project/Practicum (6 credits)

Duration and Award of Programme
The programme will be offered over a minimum of twenty-four (24) months. However, students will have the option of exiting upon successful completion of the five core courses and one course from any of the areas of specialisation, and will be eligible for the award of the Graduate Diploma in Management Studies.

Delivery Mode
The programme is delivered fully online.

When will the programme start?

This offering of the programme begins in August 2015.

Entry Requirements

An undergraduate degree (at least a Lower Second Class or its equivalent) from an approved tertiary institution

Holders of the Graduate Diploma in Management Studies may transition into the programme as per Board for Graduate Studies and Research Regulations.

Academic Preparation

All new graduate students are required to do the Graduate Introduction to Online Learning before starting the programme.

Course of Study

Level 1

MGMT6205

Sustainable Financial Management

This course provides students with the knowledge to be financially literate and to interface confidently with the finance function in order to achieve the company’s strategic plans. With sustainability as a cross cutting theme, students are introduced to the main topics in accounting and finance that impact on the strategic decisions that are made in organisations on a daily basis. Through the use of case studies and projects, students gain hands-on experience in the strategic deployment of financial literacy by managers.

Credits:

4

MGMT 6202

Management Essentials I

This course covers a wide range of topics such as: what managers do; the process of management; the practices of management (e.g. leadership and motivation); the functions of management; strategic management. There will be emphasis on the current organizational environment and how globalization and technology affect the processes and practices of management and the functions of businesses.

Credits:

3

MGMT 6019

Critical Analytical and Communication Skills for Managers

This course will guide students through a range of successful practices and guidelines based on research and experience, that will give them the opportunity to develop, practice and strengthen their communication (oral and written) and critical thinking skills. Students will also analyse and interpret data in meaningful ways for reporting in academic and work applications.

Credits:

3

-

Management Information Systems

The course introduces students to graduate level work in MIS, and provides them with an overview of the seminal papers in the field. It also reviews current developments in the field. Student are guided and supervised on a virtual tour of the literature in Management Information Systems. Topics to be covered include the MIS Forum, Research in MIS, MIS and the Organisation, MIS and the Scholar/Professional.

Level 2

-

Recruitment and Selection

This course addresses recruitment and selection as an important aspect of human resources management in an organisation. Through a blend of theory and application, the course introduces students to a wide range of issues, principles, practices and trends in recruitment and selection, and prepares students to effectively carry out the recruitment and selection process as well as to design and implement an effective and legally defensible staffing system tailored to organisational requirements.

-

Industrial Relations and Negotiating Strategies

The primary focus of this course is the use of negotiations in a business setting but with particular emphasis on its use for solving problems arising in the context of worker-management relations. The course looks at some key topics in Industrial or Employment Relations and examines the two commonly accepted negotiating paradigms, “distributive bargaining” and “integrative bargaining”.

-

Compensation and Benefits

Compensation systems in contemporary public and private organizations are examined in this course. It explores topics such as the determinants of wage and salary levels and structures, legal issues in compensation, intrinsic and extrinsic rewards, and employee satisfaction. The course further examines strategic issues in managing compensation systems along with the development of a total compensation strategy.

SBHR 6010

Human Resource Management

This course provides the opportunity for current/future HR managers and line managers to understand the place of human resource management (HRM) in a business and to grasp the issues and processes that are integral to effective identification of HR needs in the strategic development of organizations. The course also explores theories, concepts, techniques, and applications that inform the design and implementation of policies and programmes bearing upon the acquisition and retention of employees with the competency sets that will ensure organisational effectiveness and competitive advantage.

Credits:

3

-

Sales Force Management

The course is designed to provide an opportunity for students to develop an understanding of the process by which buyers' needs are identified and met through personal contact. The course takes both a strategic and a tactical perspective.

This course normally follows the completion of the taught courses. Students will work on a significant field-based project, which will be designed and completed under faculty guidelines and supervision. During fieldwork, students are required to investigate aspects of their projects that demonstrate competence in the use of skills acquired during the taught element of their programme.

Credits:

3

-

Research Paper

This course normally follows the completion of the taught courses. The basic objective of this programme element is to provide the students with an opportunity to gain practical experience with reputable organisations in the Caribbean region or internationally. The project will be applied in nature producing outcomes of use to managers and decision-makers; students will be required to demonstrate understanding of the inter-disciplinary nature of research in the social sciences, and competence in the process of research design.

MGMT 6203

Research Seminar

The course seeks to develop the knowledge, skills and attitudes required to conduct a research project, with specific reference to data collection, data analysis, interpretation of results, and the presentation of research. The course will be delivered in tandem with the Research Paper/Practicum.

With nearly 50 locations across the Caribbean, the UWI Open Campus, assists the University with providing virtual and physical access to accredited programmes, courses and other support services to students wherever they are.